girl sitting on a red stone
boys with open arms in front of the lagoon
vicuñas
chaxa lagoon
flamingos drinking water at the lagoon
selfie with the atacama desert poster
landscape with the lagoon and red stones
miscanti lagoon
1 / 8

Piedras Rojas Tour Atacama

One-day guided tour through the Atacama Desert

San Pedro de Atacama
1 day
Spanish and English
Starts: From your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama between 6:00 a.m. and 6:40 a.m.
Ends: At the San Pedro de Atacama municipal car park at 5:45 p.m.
Free cancellation!

Briefing

With the Piedras Rojas Tour Atacama you will discover a reddish landscape surrounded by lagoons in the heart of Chile's high plateau. Get ready to visit the Salar de Atacama and the lakes located more than 4,000 metres above sea level. You will also see pink flamingos and the guide will explain you all about the flora and fauna of this unusual area.

You will also visit the Tropic of Capricorn and the highland lakes Miscanti and Miñiques. These are the must-see stops on your trip to the Atacama Desert.

Here we tell you all the details of this day:

Tour details

Included

  • Transportation
  • Guide
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Entrance

Not included

  • Chaxa Entrance

Important information

❌ Due to the altitude, the tour is not suitable for people with heart problems, pregnant women, and children under 8 years old.

❄️ Keep in mind that during the early morning hours, the weather is very cold, so we recommend that you bring all the warm clothes you consider necessary. 

We do not recommend doing this tour during your first day in San Pedro, it is more convenient to adapt to the altitude of San Pedro de Atacama before doing the tour.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation! If you cancel at least 48 hours before the tour starts, you will receive 100% of the amount paid. After this time, or in case of no-show, no refunds will be given.

Tour itinerary

Piedras Rojas Tour Atacama

Altitude: 4,200 meters above sea level.

📍Pickup in San Pedro de Atacama

The Piedras Rojas Tour Atacama will start with the pick up at your accommodation in San Pedro. Once the group is assembled you will head to Piedras Rojas and Lagunas Altiplánicas passing by important tourist sites of the Atacama Desert.

group on the Piedras Rojas tour Atacama

Piedras Rojas Lagoon

This place is also known as the Aguas Calientes salt flat. You will go up in the vehicle to 3,800 meters above sea level and walk for an hour and a quarter to see the copper-colored rocks, the lagoons and the surrounding salt flats.

Then you will visit the Miscanti and Miñiques altiplanic lagoons where the guide will give you some explanations about the flora and fauna that inhabits this place.

Piedras Rojas

Chaxa Lagoon

The next stop will be at the Chaxa Lagoon - get ready to see the flamingos! You will also pass through Socaire and the Tropic of Capricorn. Here you will have time to take photos to remember.

Later you will head to San Pedro de Atacama where the Piedras Rojas tour will end at the San Pedro municipal parking lot.

flamingo drinking water in chaxa lagoon

What to bring to Piedras Rojas Tour Atacama

  • Trekking shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Comfortable clothing
  • Warm clothing
  • Sunscreen
  • Water
  • Cash (pesos) for the entrance fee.

Where does the tour Piedras Rojas Tour Atacama start

The tour starts in San Pedro de Atacama and most travelers arrive from 3 zones:

  • From Santiago de Chile: the most advisable option is to do it by direct plane to Calama. Upon arrival you can take a transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. We recommend the company Transfer Pampa for being the most reliable.
  • From Peru: most probably you will arrive directly from Cuzco or Arequipa. In this case we recommend you to take a bus that crosses the Arica-Tacna border and then takes you to San Pedro de Atacama, although it is a somewhat complex combination, since it is necessary to combine several buses.
  • From Salta (Argentina): there is a direct bus that takes approximately 11 hours.

Questions & Answers

  • What is the maximum altitude reached on this excursion?

    The maximum altitude you will reach is 4200 m. For a good acclimatization, we recommend eating light meals and drinking plenty of water the days before the excursion. Due to the altitude, we recommend that you leave this activity for the end of your stay in San Pedro de Atacama.

  • Can I swim in the lagoons?

    No, the lagoons visited during the tour are not suitable for swimming.

Other tours that might interest you from Chile

Other travelers also booked

from ‌
Trustpilot